Koutoujian, Spilka make it official

Ashland state Sen. Karen Spilka kicked off her run for Congress to cheers from supporters in Framingham on Monday, just hours after Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian also made his bid official.

By Danielle Ameden/Daily News staff

The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA

By Danielle Ameden/Daily News staff

Posted Jul. 2, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 2, 2013 at 2:04 AM

By Danielle Ameden/Daily News staff

Posted Jul. 2, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 2, 2013 at 2:04 AM

» Social News

Ashland state Sen. Karen Spilka kicked off her run for Congress to cheers from supporters in Framingham on Monday, just hours after Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian also made his bid official.

The announcements helped start a flurry of campaigning that’s expected as the race for the open 5th Congressional district seat shapes up.

Spilka and Koutoujian joined three other Democratic hopefuls who are ready to battle for the chance to succeed veteran U.S. Rep. Ed Markey in a special election later this year. Markey was elected to the U.S. Senate last week to fill the seat left vacant when John Kerry became secretary of state.

"I am incredibly excited to stand before all of you tonight," Spilka told supporters outside her Rte. 9 office headquarters Monday evening. Standing on a chair under storm clouds, Spilka vowed to put her tenacity, diplomatic skills and record of results to work to help Congress break through the gridlock.

"I spent the last 12 years on Beacon Hill taking on the challenges no one else would and I’m ready to do the same thing in Congress," Spilka said. "I want to help President Obama move our country forward as we have all together moved Massachusetts forward."

Spilka, speaking into a microphone, shared personal stories from her background - including of growing up in Yonkers, N.Y., with a father who "struggled intensely" with mental illness - and told the crowd she's comfortable working through dysfunction.

Koutoujian, a former prosecutor and state representative, formally announced his campaign Monday morning via a 4-minute video posted on YouTube.com.

"Today I am entering the race to represent you in Washington," Koutoujian said, going on to talk about his family, his deep roots in the district and his desire to help tackle the challenges in Washington.

Koutoujian, who lives in Waltham, has a passion for working on the issues facing Massachusetts that are also on voters’ minds – health care, job creation and enacting effective gun safety measures, his campaign said in a press release.

"We need to know that the next representative hears the voices and sees the faces of those that they represent – and most importantly – can get things done to make their lives better," Koutoujian said. "I have dedicated my life to doing just that and I am ready to bring those progressive values and a lot of hard work to Washington."

Three other Democrats – state senators Katherine Clark and Will Brownsberger and state Rep. Carl Sciortino – have also thrown their names into the running for the open seat, as has Republican Frank Addivinola.

Spilka said she certainly has "worthy opponents" in her primary rivals, adding, "They are friends of mine."

"This race," she went on to say, "will be about who can deliver results."

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Spilka supporters from Framingham, Ashland, Medway and other area towns came to kick off her campaign and vowed to help in a grassroots campaign.

"She is poised to be the frontrunner," former Framingham state Rep. John Stefanini said after she delivered her speech.

Stefanini said he likes Spilka’s odds, especially since MetroWest - her home turf - represents a quarter of the Congressional district, he said.

Still, Steve Roche, chairman of the Natick Democratic Town Committee, said he expects a "very spirited" primary election this fall.

But he said not to underestimate Spilka’s chances of winning, given her success on Beacon Hill.

"It would be exciting to see her take that experience and energy to Washington D.C.," he said.

Also on Monday, Brownsberger challenged his opponents to a so-called People’s Pledge, to limit outside spending during campaigning.

Danielle Ameden can be reached at 508-626-4416 or dameden@wickedlocal.com.